Folkestone Chronicle 1 October 1881.

LICENSES.

Saturday, September 24th: Before The Mayor, Gen. Cannon, Capt. Carter, Ald. Caister, J. Clark, W. Jeffreason, J. Holden, and F. Boykett Esqs.

An off license was granted to George Lepper, of Queen Street.

Folkestone Chronicle 23 April 1892.

Local News.

At the Folkestone Police Court on the 14th inst., before The Mayor, Aldermen Dunk, Pledge and Sherwood, Councillor Spurgen, and Messrs. Herbert and Fitness, John Godfrey Lepper, bandmaster of Lepper's Band, was placed in the dock on a charge of having on the 21st February, 1892, criminally assaulted his daughter, Florence Agnes Gertrude Lepper, aged 16.

The prosecutrix seemed greatly affected, and it was with great difficulty that she gave her evidence. She stated, in response to the Magistrates' Clerk's enquiries, that she was 16 on the 9th of September last, and that the prisoner was her father. He lodged at 39, Walton Road, and she lived with him. They occupied two bedrooms upstairs – one they had their meals in, and in that room her father and Miss Archer slept. They said they were married, but witness did not know if that were true. In the other room, her brother, sister, and herself slept. Her sister was 14 years of age, and her brother 15 years of age. On the day in question witness's brother went out about seven in the morning, and was absent until four o'clock in the afternoon. Miss Archer went out between 11 and 12, and witness and her sister were left alone with their father. The prisoner arose at about 11.30, and sent her sister to fetch some beer from her grandmother's in Queen Street. After she had gone out, prisoner locked the door and committed the assault. After the assault, prisoner told her to go into the next room. She did so. He assaulted her again in a similar manner. Her sister came back about half past one with the beer. She did not complain to anyone that day because she was afraid to do so, but she left home a fortnight afterwards and went to Mrs. Hetherington, a lady who was staying in Castle Hill Avenue. This was because Miss Archer struck her, and her father threatened to be “the death of her” if she said anything of what went on in the house. She had an aunt living at Horn Street, near Hythe, named Hayward, and she subsequently went to her instead of returning home again. She had not been in her home since. About a fortnight ago she told her aunt what had happened.

In answer to the prisoner, witness said she did not make a statement to anyone before, because he told her not to do so.

Dr. Yunge Bateman said he examined the prosecutrix on the 11th inst. He found that an assault had been committed.

Eliza Jane Hayward stated that she was the wife of Richard Hayward, a brewer, living at Horn Street. Her sister was the prisoner's wife, and she separated from her husband ten year ago last December. They reunited twice after that, but separated again. Her niece came to her on the 6th March, at 11 o'clock at night. She took her in, and had allowed her to live with her since. Last Wednesday week prosecutrix made a statement to her concerning the prisoner, and in consequence of that she took her to Dr. Bateman to be examined.

P.S. Lilley deposed that he apprehended the prisoner at three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon at one of the coastguard buildings, near the seashore, about three miles from Lydd. He was working there. Witness said “I have a warrant for your arrest, Lepper”. Prisoner asked “What for?” “For a rape on your daughter, Florence” witness replied. Lepper said “Good Lord, never”. He seemed very much agitated and sat down on a trussel. Witness read the warrant over to him. He said “When was the 21st of February?”, and witness replied “This year; I can't tell you what day of the week it was”. He brought him to the Folkestone Police Station, where he was charged by Sergeant Butcher in his presence, but made no reply.

The prisoner said he was entirely innocent of the charge.

The Bench remanded him until Wednesday morning.

At the Police Court on Wednesday morning, before The Mayor, Aldermen Sherwood, Dunk and Pledge, and J. Holden, Geo. Spurgen, J. Fitness, and W. Wightwick Esqs., the prisoner was again placed in the dock.

Mr. G.W. Haines stated that he appeared on behalf of Mr. Minter, who had been instructed to prosecute in this case, and he asked the Bench to grant a further remand until Thursday. The charge was of a very serious character, and the enquiries which were being made would be complete that day. There would be another charge brought against the prisoner in respect of his younger daughter, aged 14 years.

Mr. W.H. Watts, who appeared for the prisoner, consented to the adjournment, and the Chairman accordingly remanded the prisoner until Thursday, at 11 o'clock.

On Thursday morning the prisoner was again placed in the dock, and the case was continued, before The Mayor, Aldermen Pledge and Dunk, Councillor Spurgen and J. Fitness Esq.

Mr. Minter prosecuted, and stated that he should produce evidence to show that this state of things had been going on for some considerable period – ever since the girl was six years of age. Although Mr. Watts, who was appearing for the prisoner, might argue that the girl was over the age of 16, it would not apply in this case.

Mr. H.W. Watts said he strongly objected to any evidence being admitted which did not refer to the present charge. As to the present charge, he submitted that on the evidence of the prosecution alone the case must fail, as she was over the age of 16, and did not come under the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Mr. Minter said he was not proceeding under that Act.

Mr. Bradley said he did not feel disposed to advise the Bench not to admit the evidence. If it turned out to be wrong, when the case went to the Assizes it would be rejected.

The girl Florence was then called, and in answer to Mr. Minter, said she left the service of Mrs. Waller on the 21st of February, and went home at Young's Road. On the following week they left Young's Road and went to Walton Road. On the 28th of February, at Walton Road, he again assaulted her in his bedroom. The landlady (Mrs. Willis) and her two children were in the house at the time. Witness said on the last occasion that it took place on the 21st of February last. She had made a mistake. It was on the 28th. When witness was six years old she lived with her father at the George The Third Inn, in Little Fenchurch Street. There was a baby in the house, six months old, and her father used to sleep with her younger sister. Three or four times he criminally assaulted witness at that age. The baby died when it was ten months old, and he ceased to interfere with her until she was nine years old, when he went to her in her bedroom one Sunday afternoon after the house was closed, and assaulted her. She cried very much. Just before her tenth birthday she went to a home in London, where she stayed two years, and came home on the 15th of November. Her father was then renting two bedrooms at Garden Road. The same night as she came home he assaulted her, and again a few days afterwards. They moved from Garden Road to Ship Street, where they lived some three months, and then moved to 124, Dover Road. They remained there a few months and then lived at St. John's Street. From there they moved into Dover Street, and thence to Young's Road and Walton Road. He assaulted her in Dover Street and St. John's Street several times.

Mr. Minter said there was another charge against the prisoner of having debauched another daughter. It really seemed to horrible to mention, when they saw that the girl was only 13 years of age on the 1st of last July.

Annie Elizabeth Lepper was then called. From her appearance she looked about nine years of age, but she stated that she was 13 last July. She had always lived at home with her father. Sometimes he had been away from Folkestone at work, and then she lived with her grandmother at 9, Queen Street. In February of this year she was living with her father at 4, Young's Road, and remembered her sister Florence coming home from service from Mrs. Waller's on the Monday. On the previous Wednesday her father was out of work, and she did not go to school, as she was not very well. Miss Archer was living in the house. She was supposed to be her father's wife. On the Wednesday morning, whilst witness was making the beds, her father came into the room, and afterwards committed the criminal assault complained of. He told her not to tell anybody or she would get locked up and himself as well. When her sister Florrie came home on the Monday she told her what had occurred.

Dr. Yunge Bateman was called, and gave medical evidence, certifying that a criminal assault had been committed.

Mrs. Hayward was again called, and said that in consequence of a statement made by her she got possession of her other niece, Annie Elizabeth, who had just been called. She was born on the 1st of July, 1878. Witness took her to Dr. Bateman for examination.

The prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial on both charges at the next Assizes for Kent.

Mr. Minter said he was pleased to say that Mrs. Hayward had succeeded in getting both girls into a home where they would be well cared for.

The Bench granted bail in sureties of £50 by two substantial house holders, and the prisoner in £100 in each case.

The prisoner was removed below, and was hissed as he left the court.

Folkestone Chronicle 9 July 1892.

Kent Summer Assizes.

At the Kent Summer Assizes held at Maidstone on Wednesday, John Godfrey Lepper, 35, a carpenter, was indicted for committing a rape on his own daughter, Florence Agnes Gertrude Lepper, at Folkestone, on the 28th February last.

Mr. Matthews appeared to prosecute. Mr. Biron, at the request of His Lordship, defended the prisoner.

The prosecutrix, a prepossessing looking girl, aged 16, gave her evidence with calmness and self-possession. This showed that the prisoner seized, and although she resisted, effected his purpose.

In answer to His Lordship, the prosecutrix corrected the latter portion of her evidence, and said that she was a consenting party to what had taken place.

His Lordship said that after this admission the charge of rape could not be sustained, and he directed the jury to find the prisoner Not Guilty.

The prisoner was then indicted for carnally knowing, against her will, his daughter, Annie Elizabeth Lepper, age 11, on the 10th February last.

The evidence of the child left no doubt as to the guilt of the prisoner. She added that the latter told her to say nothing of what had taken place, or she would be locked up. The housekeeper, it appeared, was out at the time.

For the defence, Mr. Biron called the prisoner, who denied that he had at any time acted improperly to the child. He was not at home on the day when the alleged offence took place.

Cross-examined by Mr. Matthews: On the 10th February he was at Lydd working at his trade. The prisoner then produced a paper certifying the number of hours during which he worked on the 10th February at Lydd. These amounted to 13.

Charlotte Archer, the housekeeper to the prisoner, proved that he was not at home on the 10th February, being at work at Lydd.

Chas. Lepper, aged 16, a son of the prisoner, proved that his father left home at six o'clock on each day of the week referred to, and did not return till night.

His Lordship concisely summed up the evidence, and the jury retired to consider their verdict. After an absence of 20 minutes they returned to Court with a verdict of Guilty.

The prisoner was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour.

Folkestone Chronicle 23 July 1892.

Letter.

Dear Sir,

In your next issue will you oblige by amending the report in your paper of July 9th. It was Charles Lepper who left home for his work at 6 a.m., and did not return until 9 a.m. John Godfrey Lepper went to work at Lydd, which is nearly 18 miles from Folkestone, on Monday, February 8th, and did not return until late on Saturday, February 13th. It was impossible for him to do so, there not being any conveyance so that he might be at his work at 6 a.m.

Yours faithfully,

Godfrey Lepper.

9, Queen Street,

Folkestone. July 21st, 1892.

Folkestone Chronicle 30 July 1898.

Thursday, July 28th: Before Messrs. J. Banks, C.J. Pursey, and W.G. Herbert.

Henry Robert Lyons, a musician, was charged with stealing 5s., the property of Mr. Allen, on the 29th inst. (sic).

Prosecutor, the landlord of the Mitre Inn, Queen Street, said the prisoner had been lodging with him for three months. He missed the money from a cashbox in the bedroom. On July 19th he marked four 5s. pieces in the presence of his son and P.C. Ashby, and placed them in the box. The cash box was not locked,, but it was placed in another box, which was locked with a padlock. On the 26th inst. he missed one of the 5s. pieces (that produced). On Wednesday, witness accused the prisoner of robbing him, which he denied. They went upstairs, and prisoner produced a 5s. piece (produced), and witness saw the mark. He gave prisoner into the custody of P.C. Gardner. Witness found the key produced in the bedroom, but prisoner denied that it was his. It locked and unlocked the padlock.

By the prisoner: P.C. Ashby marked the coins in his presence. He found the key on the washstand. He did threaten the prisoner, but he did not say he would break every bone in his body.

Witness produced the other coins marked in the same way as those already produced.

James Ashby, a police probationer, lodging at the Mitre, gave evidence as to the marking of the coins.

P.C. Gardner said he received the prisoner into custody. When charged at the police station he said “All right”.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. He said it was the first time he had done such a thing, and he did not know what made him do it, as he had money of his own in his box.

He was sentenced to two months' hard labour.